Land irrigation system and method

Abstract

A land irrigation system in which a continuously traveling sprinkler line is supplied with water from spaced risers mounted on a stationary water supply conduit extending in the direction of the movement of the sprinkler line to continuously supply water to the sprinkler conveyance, carrying a rotating water manifold with three rigid water carrying arms extending from the manifold at 120° to each other for successive connection to water outlet valves on the risers, moves along the water supply conduit. The outlet from the manifold is connected to the inlet of the sprinkler line through a conduit having a swivel joint whereby the manifold and rigid arms can rotate through 360° relative to the inlet of the sprinkler line. The inlet end of each rigid arm has a coupling device for coupling with outlet valve of a riser and for opening and closing the riser outlet valve. One rigid arm is fluidly coupled to the supply line at all times. With one coupling device connected to one riser, movement of the conveyance along supply line can be utilized to cause the manifold and rigid arms to rotate around the connected riser and also relative to the conveyance to bring another coupling device into contiguity with the next riser in the direction of conveyance travel. The manifold and sprinkler swivel connection move away from and toward the stationary supply conduit to accommodate the length of the rigid arm as it rotates around the connected riser.

I claim: 
     
       1. For use in connection with a land irrigating system in which a moving water sprinkler means having water inlet means extends laterally to and moves along the length dimension of a stationary water supply means having a plurality of water outlet valve means at spaced points along the length thereof, an apparatus for successively connecting water outlet valve means of the stationary water supply means with the water inlet means of the sprinkler means comprising conveyance means for moving along the length dimension of the stationary water supply means at the same overall rate of movement as the moving sprinkler means,   water receiving conduit junction means carried by the conveyance means having water outlet means and water inlet means,   a plurality of elongated water conduit means each having end portions, the elongated water conduit means each being rigid between its end portions, one end portion of each elongated water conduit means being connected for water flow to the water inlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means,   the lenght of each of the elongated water conduit means being substantially less than the distance between adjacent water outlet valve means,   connecting means associated with the other end portion of each elongated water conduit means for successive water flow connection and disconnection with water outlet valve means on the stationary water supply means,   water flow control means for closing each elongated water conduit means to control water flow through the respective elongated water conduit means,   means carried by the conveyance means supporting the water receiving conduit junction means and the associated elongated water conduit means for movement of the water receiving conduit junction means and the connecting means of the associated elongated water conduit means relative to the conveyance means and in a horizontal plane toward and away from successive water outlet valve means,   articulated connecting water conduit means having a water inlet end portion pivotally connected to the water outlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means and a water outlet end portion pivotally connected to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means for water flow from the water receiving conduit junction means to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means,   the articulated connecting water conduit means being pivotally jointed intermediate its end portions whereby the distance between the water receiving conduit junction means and the water inlet means of the sprinkler means can vary to accommodate movement of the conveyance means relative to a water outlet valve means to which an elongated water conduit is connected.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said water flow control means comprises a one-way valve connected in each elongated water conduit means, the one-way valves permitting free flow of water through the elongated water conduit means in a direction from the connecting means to the water receiving conduit junction means and preventing flow in the opposite direction. 
     
     
       3. For use in connection with a land irrigating system in which a moving water sprinkler means having water inlet means extends laterally to and moves along the length dimension of a stationary water supply means having a plurality of water outlet valve means at equally spaced points along the length thereof, an apparatus for successively connecting water outlet valve means of the stationary water supply means with water inlet means of the sprinkler means comprising conveyance means for moving along the length dimension of the stationary water supply means at the same overall rate of movement as the moving sprinkler means,   water receiving conduit junction means carried by the conveyance means having water outlet means and water inlet means,   a plurality of elongated water conduit means each having end portions, the elongated water conduit means each being rigid between its end portions, one end portion of each elongated water conduit means being connected for water flow to the water inlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means,   the length of each of the elongated water conduit means being substantially less than the distance between adjacent water outlet valve means,   connecting means associated with the other end portion of each elongated water conduit means for successive water flow connection and disconnection with water outlet valve means on the stationary water supply means,   water flow control means for closing each elongated water conduit means to control water flow through the respective elongated water conduit means,   elongated track means carried by said conveyance means,   carriage means mounted on the elongated track means supporting the water receiving conduit junction means for movement therealong in a straight line, such movement of the water receiving conduit junction means resulting in movement of the connecting means and the associated elongated water conduit means in a horizontal plane toward and away from successive water outlet valve means, and   connecting water conduit means having a water inlet end portion pivotally connected to the water outlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means and a water outlet end portion connected to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means for water flow from the water receiving conduit junction means to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means,   the connecting water conduit means including means for accommodating movement of the water receiving conduit junction means relative to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means.   
     
     
       4. For use in connection with a land irrigating system in which a moving water sprinkler means having water inlet means extends laterally to and moves along the length dimension of a stationary water supply means having a plurality of water outlet valve means at spaced points along the length thereof, an apparatus for successively connecting water outlet valve means of the stationary water supply means with the water inlet means of the sprinkler means comprising conveyance means for moving along the length dimension of the stationary water supply means at the same overall rate of movement as the moving sprinkler means,   water receiving conduit junction means carried by the conveyance means having water outlet means and water inlet means,   a plurality of elongated water conduit means each having end portions, the elongated water conduit means each being rigid between said end portions and having one of said end portions connected for water flow to the water inlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means,   water outlet valve connector means associated with the other said end portion for connecting each said elongated water conduit means with the water outlet valve means,   the length of each elongated water conduit means being substantially less than the distance between adjacent water outlet valves means,   connecting means associated with the other end portion of each elongated water conduit means for successive water flow connection and disconnection with water outlet valve means on the stationary water supply means,   water flow control valve means connected in each elongated water conduit means to control water flow therethrough between the water outlet valve means and the water receiving conduit junction means,   meand carried by the conveyance means supporting the water receiving conduit junction means and associated elongated water conduit means for movement of the water receiving conduit junction means and the connecting means of the associated elongated water conduit means in a horizontal plane relative to the conveyance means and toward and away from successive water outlet valve means,   articulated connecting water conduit means having a water inlet end portion pivotally connected to the water outlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means and a water outlet end portion pivotally connected to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means for water flow from the water receiving conduit junction means to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means,   the articulated water conduit means being pivotally jointed intermediate its end portions whereby the distance between the water receiving conduit junction means and the water inlet means of the sprinkler means can vary to accommodate movement of the conveyance means relative to a water outlet valve means to which an elongated water conduit is connected.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said water flow control valve means comprises a one-way valve connected each said elongated water conduit means, the one-way valve permitting free flow of water through the elongated water conduit means in a direction from the connecting means to the water receiving conduit junction means and preventing flow in the opposite direction. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 further comprising pressure relief valve means connected with each said elongated water conduit means between said water flow control valve means and said other end, said pressure relief valve means being operable to relieve pressure in each said elongated water conduit means between said water flow control valve means and said other end. 
     
     
       7. For use in connection with a land irrigating system in which a moving water sprinkler means having water inlet means extends laterally to and moves along the length dimension of a stationary water supply means having a plurality of water outlet valve means at equally spaced points along the length thereof, an apparatus for successively connecting water outlet valve means of the stationary water supply means with water inlet means of the sprinkler means comprising conveyance means for moving along the length dimension of the stationary water supply means at the same overall rate of movement as the moving sprinkler means,   water receiving conduit junction means carried by the conveyance means having water outlet means and water inlet means,   a plurality elongated water conduit means each having end portions, each elongated water conduit means being rigid between said end portions and having one of said end portions connected for water flow to the water inlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means,   the length of each elongated water conduit means being substantially less than the distance between adjacent water outlet valve means,   connecting means associated with the other of said end portions of each elongated water conduit means for successive water flow connection and disconnection with water outlet valve means on the stationary water supply means,   water flow control means for closing each elongated water conduit means to control water flow through the respective elongated water conduit means,   elongated track means carried by said conveyance means   carriage means mounted on the elongated track means supporting the water receiving conduit junction means for movement therealong in a straight line, such movement of the water receiving conduit junction means resulting in movement of the connecting means of the associated elonated water conduit means in a horizontal plane toward and away from successive water outlet valve means, and   connecting water conduit means having a water inlet end portion pivotally connected to the water outlet means of the water receiving conduit junction means and a water outlet end portion connected to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means for water flow from the water receiving conduit junction means to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means,   the connecting water conduit means including means for accommodating movement of the water receiving conduit junction means and of said elongated each conduit means relative to the water inlet means of the sprinkler means.